Court Declines Request to Prevent PDP from Postponing October 24 NEC Meeting in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, has denied a request to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from rescheduling its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, initially set for Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Wadata House, Abuja. The court ruling addressed concerns about the ongoing leadership disputes within the party, which many expected to be discussed during the meeting.

The decision came after a PDP chieftain from Zamfara State, Mr. Imam Auwal, filed an ex-parte application seeking to bar the party from delaying the NEC meeting. He also requested that the court forbid the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) or any other party body from acknowledging any other NEC meetings except the one scheduled for October 24. Auwal’s motion aimed to ensure that the leadership issues within the party were addressed at the scheduled meeting.

However, Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, who presided over the case, declined to grant Auwal’s requests. The judge chose not to issue an interim injunction that would have restrained the PDP from shifting the date of the NEC meeting. The certified true copy of the court’s order, obtained by *DAILY POST*, showed that the judge’s decision did not align with Auwal’s demands.

Justice Ibrahim explained his decision by ordering that the defendants in the case be informed of the plaintiff’s concerns regarding the main issue. The judge granted a reduction in the time required to hear the matter, setting the next court date for Friday, October 25, 2024, when both parties are expected to appear.

Beyond seeking to keep the NEC meeting on schedule, Auwal had also asked the court to prevent the PDP from recognizing the suspended National Vice Chairman for the South East, Mr. Ali Odeifa, as a national officer. Additionally, he requested that the court restrict the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting any correspondence from the PDP until a new National Chairman is formally appointed, as per Section 47(6) of the party’s constitution. The court, however, refused to grant these requests.

The PDP’s leadership crisis and internal disputes have attracted significant attention, especially with the planned NEC meeting expected to address these issues. Auwal’s legal actions illustrate the intensity of the internal conflicts and the stakes involved in the party’s leadership structure.